Telephone to Toastmasters

I am spending a few days in Townsville with my cousin Trish before heading south. Trish and I don't see each other very often but we are the same age and have lots of shared experiences as kids. As a young teacher I shared a home for a couple of years with her mother, (my Aunty Ag who was Mum's eldest sister) and also with Nana. Our paths crossed often in those days when she had young kids. Her kids and grandkids are mainly in Townsville or fairly close. She has her second great-grandchild due this month - a bit of a start on me as my grandchidren range from 2 to 12. It will be a while, if ever, before I see great-grandchildren.

Last night I attended a Toastmasters meeting - by phone. I connected to Healthy Chatterers meeting at Redcliffe and was General Evaluator for the meeting. It was quite a different process, listening but not seeing what was happening. On the previous weekend I hooked up for an executive meeting of Peninsula Club, also at Redcliffe.  These are mixed blessings, of course, as it means I can be part of the club and the club meetings but it also means that I can't totally switch off from my club roles while I am travelling.

This trip I haven't been to meetings of any other club as I haven't been in towns when meetings were held - except one club here in Townsville that meets at 6.30am. As early mornings and I are incompatible, I gave that club a miss. Over the next few weeks I expect to get to an occasional meeting of other clubs and I will be at my home clubs in late July and early August.

My home clubs have just had executive elections. Although I plan to be away most of the year, two of my clubs have asked me to serve on the executive. So I am Vice President Public Relations in SeeChange and I am Secretary in Peninsula Club and will act as assistant to the Treasurer in Healthy Chatterers when the Treasurer is out of range. Like me, she is motor-homing around Australia. I have to say that I like being on the executive as I know what is happening and have some say in the direction of the club. As mentor for Peninsula and Healthy Chatterers, it gives me a closer link with the members.

Cory has been faithful with his blog, not much writing but a lot of photos. You can check it at coryss.blogspot.com and leave comments on his email cory.scottsmith@gmail.com